MANILA, Philippines – Armed men on early Monday morning shot dead seven people in an ambush in Rosario, Cavite, hours before the polling precincts opened.
The slain victims were identified as Amron Sharief, Fabil Magandia, Imam Omail, Imam Ebrahim, Imam Farhan, Imam Rakiin and Ramon Tuazon.
One of their companions, Fatar Mampon, survived the attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Based on reports of the Cavite police, the victims were onboard a Mitsubishi Adventure and two motorcycles when armed men flagged the group down past midnight along D.P. Jimenez Street in Barangay Wawa 3.
At least 15 successive shots were heard by residents nearby.
The victims, all residents of a Muslim community in Rosario, Cavite, were reported to be volunteers assigned to check incidents of vote-buying in the area.
The town of Rosario in Cavite has been added to the list of election “areas of concern” by the Commission on Elections. – Kristine-Daguno-Bersamina